Chennai Crunch

Ok, Its been ages since I updated my blog (I know you people must have been happy, but now I am back to torment you; So pls bear with my nonsense)

I won't go much into details now, to save you the trouble I will only put forth the details of my last 48 hours. (Do I hear sighs of relief?...)

Now, I had been to Chennai, with my friends who were kind enough to come along with me. It also happened to be the first time I travelled by train.

We, were quite early to our coach, and the electricity supply hadn't been turned ON. So, as I was making my way through the dark, hot bogie, I told my friends

"Tum log train mein aajao. Mein kal 6am ki flight le letu"

Well, that was my first impression of the train. But, it changed as we started moving. Except maybe for a typical uncle, aunt family in our coach, things were good. And, if you have never been to train toilets, don't go. I took one look inside and came back running as if I had seen a ghost. Some calls can Naturally, wait.

Not surprisingly, I slept very well in the train ( I am a sound sleeper. My only fear was that I'd not wake up at the Chennai station, and maybe find myself back at Nampally).

Thankfully, that didnt happen, and we were at a lodge in Chennai by 7 am. After a hearty breakfast, I went to sleep; while my friends watched some movie on their laptop.

At 11am, I get a call from home, enquiring if I was ready, for my interview.

My interview???

I had an interview at 2pm; this was apparently the purpose of my trip. Assuring them that I was ready, I got into action.

Now, this was an interview which had close to 600 candidates appearing for around 60 general seats or so.

As I got to my interview centre, some 5-star hotel I had a few things in mind.

1) We were supposed to write some sort of essay on a topic I could barely understand. I had written nonsense (as those who read my blog will know that) and to top that my handwriting would register among the TIME list of all time people with the worst handwriting ever.

2) A questionnaire which had questions like, biggest risk ever, long term goals, etc etc.

My answers for the above were of course some nonsense stories.

I reached the center at 1:30 and roamed around the hotel. Met a few fellow interview aspirants. There were people with 2,3, and 6 years of workex. One of them, I don't recall the name ( I am very very poor at recollecting names) told me that he had 6 years of workex as a lawyer, another at a bank He asked me, and I said I am still studying. He looked at me with a grin that said

" Kaha aa gaye Beta"

I was the first to go post lunch. I sat in the longue, wating for my name to be called, wondering about my friends who were going to Marina Beach and I would be joining them soon.

"Ahmed"

I hear someone call and wake me from my day-dreams. He seemed a senior prof, as he ushered me in. I walk in, and the scenes unfold as follows:-

"Arrey O Samba...kitne aadmi the?

Teen Sarkar.

Aadmi teen, aur murga ek.

Bahut na-insaafi hai"

An adaptation from Sholay, (a film I never got to see till the end)

There were 3 panelists, P1, P2, P3

(Note:- The text in purple italics refers to what was going through my mind, black refers to what I said)

Me:- May I come in sir...

(all 3 in unison):- Yes, come in; close the door behind you

Me:- Good afternoon sirs

P1:- Good afternoon. Have a seat.

Me:-Thank you

P2:- Give me your file

(P1 was going through my acads background, P2 had my certificates, and my dreaded essay, P3 had my answers to the Questionnaire)

P1:- So, Ahmed you are from Hyderabad?

ab tum chichha, Hyd ke baare mein kya puchte ki. kuch bolke divert karenge inko

Me- Yes, sir. I was born and brought up in Saudi Arabia and have been in Hyderabad for the past 8 years.

P1:- Saudi Arabia???

Hehe, hau uncle, pucho saudi ke baare mein kuch bhi, culture, tradition, history, people, geography....kuch bhi

Me:- Yes, sir

P1:- ok, how is the current economin situtaion in Saudi?

Kya bole?? Economy??

Mazaakh karre?

Arey chachajaan, mein 3 hafte se Economic Times, padhru. Usme indian economy deta, saudi nahi. Jaa jaake ye kya puche

Me:- Well, sir Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of oil today blah blah and ended by saying that at present, it has problems of inflation.

(I could have done more justice here, talked about the business generated there due to inflow of pilgrims, recession not an issue there cos of islamic banking and explained the same too with an example. That would have been brilliant. Anyways, a golden chance gone)

P1:- ok, so you are from Hyderabad, graduating in 2009.

Arey, ye kya tape atak gaya shahid.

Me:- Yes, sir

P1:- This Muuuuuuuuuuuffffffffffakham Jaaaaaaaaaah college

Izzat nikaal diye aap poori

Me:- It is Muffakham Jah sir, he was the grandson of the last Nizam of Hyd and blah blah

P1:- How good is your college

Hiccup!!! Ye ich tha bakhi. Ab sahi bolne ko baitho to phir mera interview yahi khatam ho jaata

Me:- Sir, it is one of the best engineering colleges in the city, blah blah blah

kaafi sharam aayi bolte waqt

P1:- Where is this college in Hyderabad

Me:- It is located at Banjara Hills sir

P1:- I have been there, but didn't know that there was an engineering college there

arey sir, aap hamare college ke beech mein se guzre to bhi aapko nahi malum hota yaha college hai bolke

I cast glances at P2 and P3. P2 was buried in my certificates.

Dekho dekho, kuch bhi nahi milta usme

P3 was reading my questionnaire answers, and I caught him looking at me through the corner of his eyes.

Pakdhe gaye

P1:- Are you doing a final year project?

Nahi, sir nahi karru. 2 mehne pehle, kuch abstract submit kare the bas, uske baad palathke bhi nahi dekha, bas topic yaad hai

Me:- Yes, sir we are working on blah blah blah

P1:- Do you have any IIM calls through CAT?

CAT ka naam liye to maar detu.

P1:- Have you been recruited in placements?

Me:- Yes, at blah blah

P1:- Very good, why don't you join them?

Ab tum select nahi kare to wo ich karna sonchru

Me:- said something about achieving my long term goals through blah blah blah blah

P1:- So, why mba for that

Arey choro na sir, mere ko kya malum, ghar pe mummy bhi ye hi puchte; aapka call letter aaya to mein aa gaya chennai, Marina Beach dekhne

Me: - More blah linking it to my long term goals

I don't think I convinced them as the three were only nodding their heads like puppets. (No strings attached)

P1:- So, what is your blueprint on your plans?

blueprint?? blueprint nahi, whiteprint hai; paper khaali blank hai; kaika print. Ab mere pe footprints padhne wale hai

Me:- Some blah blah

P1:- What is your view on the reservation issue?

abba, ab yaha kaha aagaya ine. About turn

Me:- Sir, nowadays the resevation system is being exploited by blah blah,....... if the person really deserves it, the govt whould help him out

P1:- Why are scheduled tribes called scheduled tribes?

say what??? say what??? nikal gayi hawa; mere ko kya mlaum; chalo Ahmed beta, apna favorite answer bolne ka time aagaya

Me:-I am sorry, I don't know

P1:- Do you know Mr. Balaxxxxxxxx ( dnt remember the name)

Achha, kaun aapke susre the kya? chalo phir favorite answer bolna hai

Me:- I am sorry, I don't know

P1:- What is the capital of Uttaranchal?

aap uttarpradesh to bhi puchna tha; uttaranchal ka uttar kuch hai.. kuch hai

haan yaad aaya; but before I could say Dehradun; my tongue was already halfway through my favorite answer

Me:- I am sorry, I don't know

Saale maar diya,

Dehradun, brings me doom

P1:- Tell me about the scenario in A.P. politics

mein mba college ko apply kara shahid, to mein pass out hue baad politician banne waala hun kya? ye sab kya puchre

Me:- There is a three way power struggle now, blah blah blah

P1 says to P2 "any questions"

P1 ko bas ho gaya shahid, ab mere ko bahar phekna chahra; so jao uncle ab aap. Ab P2 smart dikhra, achha puchta hunga kuch football, ipl, F1 ke baare mein.

P2:- "So, you are from electronics and communication background?"

Mummmmy, bachaaaao. Dial 911, 108. Ye kya ho gaya. P1 wale uncle aap ich achhe the; nahi mere ko kuch bhi nahi malum ECE ka, mat pucho..... mein jaaru; meri file dedo mere ko

P2:- Tell me the difference between TCP/IP and OSI

kya pucha bhai ine, kahi sune waisa hai, sonch Ahmed sonch. Slumdog Millionaire style sonch, flashback. Haan, CAT ke dusre din ke exam mein yahi tha

Me:- Sir, TCP/IP has 5 layers, whereas OSI has 7 layers.

bas itna hi malum; aage kuch boldo

the 7 layers are blah blah blah.

P2 looks at me with a quizzing look

Uncle, mere ko malum mein sab sahi bola; bas aap aage mat pucho; isse badhe kuch bhi nahi malum mere ko

P2:- which is used today

Me:- TCP/IP

P2:- was OSI used in the internet earlier

chalo ho gaya ab; meri file dedo; jaaru mein; Marina Beach kaisa jaana yaha se

Me:- I am not really sure

P3:- How many films of Karan Johar have you watched?

dhat teri ki! kaha se kaha jaare. khair, ece ke alaawa kuch bhi pucho

Me:- Sir, I have watched two of his films, blah blah

P3:- What do his films convey?

har film mein srk rehna bas; yehi hai message

Me:- blah blah

P3:- Tell me about Amitabh Bachhan

Ye kya hora yaha, ab Danny Denzogpa bhi puchna tha aap

Me:- blah blah

P2:- Do you know he once contested for elections

Achha, how nice! thank you. aur kya bolte aap uske baare mein

Me:- I am not sure, where he contested from.

P2:- You stay at Masab Tank, there is a flyover there. People say that it was built at the cost of Andhra Pradesh. What do you say?

Aap mere se baat karre? Hello. Kya hai khissa!! Nahi nahi rehtu mein Masab Tank pe. Old City pe Charminar hai, uske baare mein malum.

Me:- Well, sir Mr Naidu was the CM at the time the bridge was built and he paid more attention to the urban areas, Hyderabad in particular at the expense of the rural areas.

P3:- Your parents are doctors, why didn't you become one?

Ab tum yaha select nahi kare to mein bhi doctor ich banjaana sonchru

Me:- blah blah

P1 and P3:- Thank you

P2:- I will ask a question in maths

Kya bachhe ki jaan lete. Pehle tum kya ki puchre. Tumhare doston ka peth bhar gaya, tumhare ko kya hona abhi

P2:- I travel with an avg speed of 20 ms. With what speed shall I return so that my average spped is 40 ms

Kya jaal bhichaare aap. Machli pakadhne ke naye tareekhe

Me:- 60 ms

P2:- Sure?

Andar se phoot phoot ke hansra; kuch to golmaal ho gaya;

Me:- It depends on the distances in question also, sir

P2:- Ok, thank you. Nice talking to you.

Ab mein jaate hi sab laut laut ke hanso tum log. Bachhe ki jaan leke mazaa aaya hunga

Me:-Thank you sirs.

Ye Mariana Beach kaisa jaana yaha se

I step out.

So, that was it.

Zero- The no. of questions asked about my hobbies

Zero- The no. of questions asked on football.

Zero- The no. of questions asked on F1.

Zero- The no. of questions asked on IPL

Zero- The no. of questions asked about the Middle East.

Three- The no. of questions asked on acads

Four- The no. of times I said I don't know

I wished my fellow competitors the best and left. I was called in for the interview at 2:20, was out by 2:40 and was at the Mariana Beach at 3:00 with my file and in formals, to catch up with my friends. Call it round 2 of the interview.

After mindless monkeying in the water, we lost track of the time. Someone noticed it, at 5 pm, and we had a train to catch at 6:10. We rushed to our hotel, cleaned up, packed and out. What next?

Ask the people at Chennai Central Railway Station. They will say they noticed 3 idiots running with bags all the way from the main road to the train. Fortunately, we didn't have to do anything DDLJ style.

So, back in Hyd now after a pretty nice trip, except maybe for the 20 mins in the interview room. One other thing, the autowallahs at Chennai will fleece you if you don't speak Tamil. One differnce between them and threir Hyderabadi counterparts, is that the Hyd'badis live up to the Nawab tag. They speed away if they don't want to go where you want to go, whereas the Chennai ones, don't speed away. They smile their sweetest smile and demand your life savings. So, who is better?

How was my interview?

I leave that for you to decide.....

Dedicated to

1) My friends who accompanied me to Chennai. Hope your efforts don't go in vain. (matlab start praying for a miracle)

2) The lodge owner at Chennai, who will have a tough time cleaning up the mess we made.

3) The interview panel ( I guess)

4) All those who will be attending interviews in the future. Hope, you learnt what not to do after reading this

(for those of you who were bored, you should be glad cos I am done and won't post for a few weeks now)

(if you made it this far, put in your comments)

My journey to............................Nowhere

Pls read blog 3, "Clawed and Mauled first"

Kya hua bhai, Aapke CAT ka?

(A question I have heard so many times, I guess I had to put this up. It's true that when you don't do well in an exam, everybody asks you about it. Sometimes, it's better to write than to speak,.Now, I realize why they say the pen is mighty).

The journey started in the hot, lazy holidays of the month of May. A friend told me that his institute is conducting a free for all Mock test on Cat. I told him I was very busy doing nothing, but he insisted. So, I agreed to take it. That was the 18th of May. The paper seemed fun to me, and my result was even more encouraging. So, I went ahead and took up the mock test series. And so began my foray into the CAT.

Mocks were fun. Though I had to wake up early on sundays too, I used to compensate on that by sleeping late on the other 6 days of the week. But, I truly enjoyed the mocks, they were worth the money. Things were smooth till september, when I I had gone abroad for a few weeks. 

After returning, in October mocks were a  bit shaky,  but I wasn't worried. I felt I'd iron out any creases.

Then came Nov 16th (refer blog 3 for a live show)

I shall continue from blog 3 now. 

According to the answer key from various institutes, I was expecting around 98 %ile, which seemed pretty bad to me, cos I would be missing the overall cutoffs for the IIMs by only a few marks, ( a matter of 1 or 2 questions.)

So, I was feeling pretty dejected, and cursing myself over the blunders I made. When you feel you are this close, and you can't go ahead it's bad. Sometimes I even used to look skywards and say, "What's going on?"

Being an optimist, I still had a hope, that the IIM key might be different, then my marks would increase and perhaps I could get a call or two. I had been clinging on to this hope, for the past 6 weeks.

Fast forward to 

January 8th,  9pm

     

Only a few hours before the cat would be out. My friend tells me that the IIMs have released their key, and that there are a few differences in it as compared with the institute ones. He said some students even had an increase of upto 20 marks. I jokingly told him, a 20 marks increase for some, would also mean a decrease for some. I couldn't find my paper to tally with the answer key. I wasn't tensed cos I felt that I had nothing to loose. I was sure that things couldn't go any worse. Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice, and in my case it had struck on Nov 16th.  Saying that to myself, I went to sleep.

When the event befalleth 

There is no denying that it will befall

(Many) will it bring low; (many) will it exalt;                   

                                                                                          (Al-Quran 56:1-3)

January 9th

7am

A friend calls and says, results are out. Still half asleep, I didnt want to go to my computer, so lying on my bed I checked the result on my phone. 

I was mortified with what I saw, 

there was a 20 marks deficit between my calculated total, and the one in the result. Convinced that it was only a bad dream, I went to sleep. (Others would have jumped out of their skins).

MY phone starts ringing, with calls from friends. I switch it to silent mode, and pull my blanket over me. I didn't want to speak to anyone, not now. 

I was supposed to be at college for some event, but how could I go, with friends bombarding me on the CAT, it wouldn't have been wise for me to go.

I wake up at 11, and check the result on my computer again, it still shows figures which seem fried. That's it, I say to myself. 

I was thinking that things couldn't go worse, that a 98 %ile is bad enough, but now, loosing 20 more marks. My worse seemed to have no limits.

But, the worse was yet to come. A castigation from my parents, was all I needed to complete my day. And the bombardment came, with no cease-fire.

To start with, my dad gave me a castigating lecture for 5 minutes, 

Five minutes might seem a short time, but when it comes from someone, 5,000 kms away, it gets multiplied that many times. 

So, holding the phone receiver to my ear, with him on the other end, was more like holding a revolver to my head, and him firing away.

Dishoom, Dishoom

(toh I know Pepsodent ka kaam hai.)

If there is one person who I never want to disappoint, it's my dad. Unfortunately, I have disappointed him more times than I can count. I hope I make him proud one day.

So, after that bombardment, which would have been enough to bring Satan to his knees, I go back to my room and....... 

go to sleep.

If all that wasn't enough, at dinner time my mom started with her bit. There is a difference in 

the way my parents chastize you. My dad is more direct, more to the heart, a bit like surgical strikes, my mom though leaves nothing, like carpet bombing. It's difficult to swallow food, when you are under attack, so I leave my plate and go.

So, after being battered, bruised I lay in my bunker  ( my room). I always get scolded by mom, happens everyday; but this was different. This time I knew, I had done something wrong. 

I read in the paper about students commiting suicides cos they were chided by their mom or dad. I used to find it amusing.

But, now I felt the pain, I realised why people take the extreme step. I wondered how they felt taking the extreme step. Slashing one's wrist with one slice of a knife. I lay on my bed thinking about it all. I felt dejected, depressed, crestfallen, dispirited, downcast........

 The clock strikes 12, "This is it", I say to myself, "I can't take it anymore, Time to end this" and get up from my bed. I go to my mom's room, make sure she is asleep, 

then go see my brother, who is snoring away.

It's time now, I say to myself. 

Time to put an end to my desires.

Time to end my cravings

I go into the kitchen to pick up a knife, 

look at my left wrist. 

take off the watch. 

I see the light reflecting off the knife, 

it's now or never I say to myself. 

I peep for the last time in my mom's room.

I wanted to say sorry from the bottom of my heart.

I move away, from her room afraid I'd wake her up and she'd catch me. 

It will all be over soon I say as I carry the knife. 

I maybe a coward, I say to myself, but I can't help it. 

I pick up the knife 

and

in a quick slice..

cut the bread to make myself a sandwich.

Leaving dinner left me hungry. Hunger is a desire. So, after a midnight snack, and clearing the scene of the crime, I again go back to sleep. 

People tell me that "Whatever happens, happens for the best and God has something better in store for you"

It's true, but what's better than the IIMs?

IIPM!!!!

And irony is, I used to say the above two sentences to my friends only a few months ago, 

Now, I am at the receiving end. 

I was in a similar situation a few years ago, though not so severe. 

Today, I look back at that incident with a smile and say that "I am glad it happened, for it really did occur for my good"

Maybe a few years later, I will look back at CAT-08 and say, "I am glad it happened, for it really did occur for my good"

That's life, that's my faith.

One good thing is that, my career options are narrowing down now, ( among the two mentioned in blog 3, I am edging towards the first one; the new vehicles come with auto-start, I won't have to pull the stick)

A few lessons I learnt,

1)My dad used to tell me that if you are alone, but God is on your side, then nothing can stop you from your goal. 

I learnt the inverse of that statement. 

If God isn't on your side, then no matter how much you try you won't reach your goal.

(is that an inverse or a converse??)

2) If someone doesn't do well in an exam, it may not be cos he is not good. It could also be that his best has been saved his for last. 

3) There is never a situation which can't go worse. Always thank the Almighty for whatever you have, cos if you don't, He can take that away too, and bring you lower.

Dedicated to:-

1) Touseef, the guy with 5 IIM calls, 

    You are an inspiration for us. 

    99.75%ile kate.   Sharam karo, 

2) Yash,

    who said " agar IIM-K,L,I se calls aae to nahi attend kartu, A,B,C se aae to sonchtu"

    sharam naam ki cheez rehti Yash, yaha logan marre.

3) Vinay who said " You know you have it in you, I know I have it in me....just tht it didnt come        this time, God will give us our share of luck somewhere... so nothing is far"

You are a gem of a person dude.

And to all those whose calls I didn't attend on Friday......................

Thank me, cos I saved you a rupee.

The most important thing to be learnt from the above is.........

When you are lazing around on a holiday and someone tells you to take some test or start something new. 

ignore him and enjoy your day.

Note:-This wasn't written to gain any sympathy or empathy or antipathy.

It was only an answer as to What went Wrong?

So, what went wrong?

Answer:- I don't know, neither do I intend on finding out.

(Signing off by saying, "Pls pray for the Palestinians, and then for me too")

Pathetic Apathy

"TRRRRRRRRRRING"

I snooze my alarm clock for the 10th time, and look at the clock

9:30 am

I say to myself, 

"Chalo aaj thoda jaldi uthinge"

After breakfast, I sit on the sofa, like a Nawab would and read the newspaper sipping tea.

The booring poilitics crap, on the front page, as I move on, I read that Hawaii had a blackout, and Obama was in the dark. Interesting news, as I feel sympathy for the poor black man in the blackout.

Well, we Indians are used to blackouts, I wonder if that makes us superior.

I begin to wonder if we can today live without electricity, for a day?

Or maybe a week, a month? a year?

I wonder how the hospitals would run then?

Shall we make it more challenging? 

Let's cut out the medical supplies too,

cut out the food, fuel, water everything.

Is that enough.........

Well, let's also close any escape routes, lock the gates of the confinement. And keep the people like that for a year.

Then, let's bomb the place

Am I being gruesome?

No, that's not me.

Imagine, not knowing when your next meal will be, 

Imagine, going to bed, after wishing your parents and wondering if you will ever see them again

Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror and wonder if you would look the same tomorrow? would you have the same hands, legs

Imagine not knowing if the next hour could be your last

I am talking about something that has actually happened and is still continuing. 

Where is it happening?

No, not in Guantanamo, not to any terrorist suspects, not to any war criminals.

But, that's what has been happening in Gaza.

GAZA!!!

What's that?

I hear someone say.

Not surprising, but Gaza, Palestine, Bosnia, Chechnya are always out of the news and if they are in the news, they will be so only for the wrong reasons. 

For the last year (one entire year), 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were held captive, in a siege by Israel. (Such tactics were used in medieval times against fortresses. )

Not allowing human beings freedom of movement is bad enough, but denying them to obtain essential things for living will reduce them to desperation.

 And the world looked on, with no worries about what Israel has been doing to the innocent people of Gaza (guilty of voting for Hamas? guilty of existing, actually.)

Now, to bomb the living daylights out of these people who have suffered every kind of torture that Israel and the world has decided to make them go through, is criminal. And, you mention that it was done when children were in the streets is almost beyond criminal, if that is possible, it is absolutely evil. 

Among the targets was a compound where a police graduating ceremony was in progress, pictures of mutilated bodies of young men in uniform, pictures of school children lying on the ground, a university campus bombed!!

School children waiting at a bus stop bombed.

The onslaught was unleashed just after the Christian world celebrated the birthday of Jesus Christ and Pope Benedict XVI called for peace in the Middle East in his Christmas address. 
Gaza has been turned into an open-air prison, a giant concentration camp where Palestinian women and children are being denied food and medicine in their own homeland. And now the illegitimate usurper regime has launched a merciless attack on the Palestinians of Gaza, but no one is calling for Israeli officials to be brought to the Intentional Criminal Court to stand trial for their crimes, which is itself a crime against humanity.

The Israeli military claims that it is taking surgical strikes at the Hamas and is minimizing civilian loss. When it comes to Gaza, said to be one of the most densely-populated areas of the world, there is no such thing as a surgical strike. Moreover, over half of Gaza’s population are children under 18. Even the smartest smart bombs could not cherry-pick between resistance fighters and innocents in such a packed environment.

I am sure Israel will, and very soon come to US Congress and the new Obama administration and ask for replenishment of the weapons and ammunition it used to murder so many innocent people. When Jews and Israelis die it is terrorism and all are innocent including the soldiers who shoot and kill, the pilots who drops the 1000 lb.bombs. When Palestinian die, they are collateral damage and are guilty as charge of simply being a Palestinian. 

There has not been a single day in the past 60 years where there was not at least one Israeli gun pointed at a Palestinian, whether at the checkpoints that lace the West Bank, or on the battle field during Israel's frequent ground incursions into West Bank cities, or from the air as Israel drops bombs on Gaza. If that is what an aspiration for peace looks like, God save us from seeing an Israeli aspiration for war. And as we hear Olmert says that this is only the beginning of war.

Whatever one thinks of Hamas and it ideology, it was elected to office in free and internationally-monitored elections that were forced upon the Palestinian people by Washington as part of the Bush administration’s quest to democratize the Middle East. Then, after congratulating the Palestinians on their new democracy, the US-led international community promptly condemned the new leadership as terrorist and threw its support behind Fatah, which was “ordered” to turn against Hamas. This divisive strategy worked to the extent Hamas was driven to Gaza where it has since struggled against all odds to provide its citizens with the barest minimum required to sustain life. 

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't the Hamas which broke the ceasefire, but Israel had assassinated a few leaders of Hamas, in November, during the ceasefire, and had not suspended aid blockage as promised.

But like its Washington master (or is it the other way around?) Israel is not constrained by international law or the Geneva Conventions that also require an occupying nation to provide for the well being of people under its occupation and to respect their dignity. As the willful killing continues, Israel merrily ignores pleas from France, Russia, the UN, the EU and Britain to end the violence. Why should it do otherwise when it has proved time and time again that it is a law unto itself and immune from international punishment?

Unsurprisingly, the only message from the US to Israel is “try to avoid civilian casualties”, which is nothing more than lip service to international humanitarian sensitivities. In effect, the Bush administration has blessed this, by many accounts, long planned operation, cynically timed to begin during a political vacuum in Washington.

But there is another angle, and that is the upcoming Israeli election. It is not novel for incumbent Israeli governments to carry out atrocities against Palestinians to garner domestic support, and with the Likud expected to win the next elections, this is definitely a power play by the embattled ruling party, Kadima.

The Arab world will protest for a few days, condemn the acts, call them barbaric, agree to send millions of $ of aid which will be blocked by Israel That's all they will do. 

The GCC, OIC will only condemn the attacks, then even these voices will become quiet and with them, perhaps Gaza will forever become quiet as life is sucked out of it. 

As a former Israeli ambassador to the UN Gillerman just said

"We haven't seen dramatic condemnations [from world leaders], only the expected and generic calls for calm and cease-fire," 

"Even in the UN I didn't see anyone happy to condemn us," he added. "Unless something very dramatic happens, such as a blundered hit that kills large numbers of civilians, then we will have enough time to do what we need to do."

When the world leaders don't act, it's the desperate people who take things into their hands, this is where and how extremists are born.

This week saw/will see the rest of the world celebrate three festivals,

1) Christmas

2) The Islamic Hijri New Year

3) The English New Year

When one hears firecrackers on New Year's Eve, let him remember that the Palestinians hear bombs exploding all around them. 

As we usher in a New Year let those of us who care, pray for peace and happiness for all mankind ( Palestinians and Israelis included). 

The rest of us may only read the headlines somewhere in the corner of the newspaper 

"300 killed in Palestine"

and without blinking an eye, turn the pages to find out something interesting such as, which theater Ghajini is running in.

(Dedicated to the old Palestinian and his family ( refer blog 2),

Sir, you are only physically blind, whereas the world is truely blind. 

Our apathy is pathetic.

"Unfortunately sir, I still don't have tears in my eyes, " )